How big spenders Chelsea became flag bearers for financial sustainability

Tammy Abraham joined Chelsea’s academy aged seven in 2004 only a year after Roman Abramovich bought the club. Then, Chelsea were in the midst of a spending spree, shelling out £300million in two years to assemble one of the most formidable squads in European football. At the same time, they were mapping out an academy model that has helped the club turn a £33million profit in the transfer market nearly two decades later.